News
WWT Castle Espie to host BBC Two's Springwatch 2021
WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre in Co. Down has been selected as one of three live locations across the UK to host BBC Two’s popular wildlife programme Springwatch.
18 May 2021
Recent Sightings - 10th May 2021
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a rising tide. The Common Terns are now showing interest in the island on the Saline lagoon and we hope they will settle and start to nest soon. A pair of Mediterranean gul
11 May 2021
Recent Sightings - 03th May 2021
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie on an ebbing tide. Despite the strong winds and rain over the bank holiday, the Sedge warbler could be seen, and heard high in the willows near the Peninsula field lookout. Th
4 May 2021
Recent Sightings - 26th April 2021
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a rising tide. There are 2 pairs of Shelduck on the reserve presently, and this a species we are lucky to see all year around. We enjoy large flocks of birds on the estuary
27 April 2021
WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre ready to welcome visitors back on 23 April
Visitors will soon be able to find solace from the latest lockdown by getting out into the 60 acres of big skies and beautiful wetland nature at WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre which re-opens this Friday 23 April.
20 April 2021
Recent Sightings - 19th April 2021
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a low tide. An improvement in the weather has spurred a lot of birds on with breeding activities, with many species, across much of the habitats at Castle Espie busy singing
20 April 2021
Recent Sightings - 12th April 2021
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a rising tide. The cold snap seems to have put a pause on many of the birds that would usually be busy nest building at this time of year, but a hint of the sounds of summer
13 April 2021
Recent Sightings - 5th April 2021
Northerly winds have made this a very cold and blustery day here at Castle Epsie. We have even had a small flurry of snow! Many birds have taken up shelter in our habitats: the Black-tailed Godwit, Knot and Redshank roosting flocks moved, predominately, t
5 April 2021
Recent Sightings - 29th March 2021
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a low tide. Nest building has begun and is evident from many birds on the reserve including Blue tits using some of the many nest boxes, Jackdaws building in the old chimney
31 March 2021
Shining a spotlight on the smaller creatures springing to life around WWT Castle Espie
Spring has sprung and it’s not just our feathered friends coming to life. All around WWT Castle Espie, lots of tiny bugs are awakening from their winter hibernation.
29 March 2021
Recent Sightings - 22nd March 2021
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a low tide. Song thrush is in full voice at various points around the reserve, and along with the appearance of primrose and frog spawn, it is a definite sign that the natur
23 March 2021
Castle Espie Wetland Centre receives grant of £203,400 from the Heritage Recovery Fund to help recover from the COVID-19 pandemic
Castle Espie Wetland Centre has been awarded £203,400 to help recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant will enable Castle Espie Wetland Centre to cover the income lost as a result of having to close to visitors during lockdown.
23 March 2021
Recent Sightings - 15th March 2021
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie at low tide. This week has seen an increase in Black-headed gulls on site, as they build on their breeding grounds. Within the flock there is an occasional Mediterranean gull
16 March 2021
A wellbeing wander round WWT Castle Espie
This year more than any, we’ve become more aware of our wellbeing and what it means to truly feel good in ourselves. As a result of lockdown, people had the opportunity to slow down and to really appreciate the smaller things in life, like nature.
15 March 2021
Recent Sightings - 8th March 2021
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie at high tide. The past week has seen the return of the Black-tailed godwit to the reserve at Castle Espie. These birds prefer the Wadermarsh and Shingle bank habitats during t
9 March 2021